BLACKBERRY SCRATCH 


In collaboration with Adam Blencowe

Blackberry Scratch is a new permanent artwork and public seat designed for the central green space at Blackberry Park. It responds to the industrial history of the local area; Coalpit Heath was founded as a coal mining settlement. The form of the artwork references the drumlin shape that often characterises areas where mining has occurred, and the name Blackberry Scratch refers to the technique of mining coal simply by scratching away the surface; this method was used locally around Coalpit Heath.

The tiles that line the seating were made by scratching, pushing and moving wet clay resulting in unequally textured surfaces. This process was specifically developed by us and made with local residents at Fired Up Ceramics’ studio in Yate.

The artwork was commissioned and funded by Barratt Homes for the Blackberry Park housing development and forms part of the developer’s planning obligations for the site.

Materials:
Hand made ceramic tiles, corten steel, brick, cement and shaped earth.

Dimensions:
W 6000mm x D 6000mm x H 1000mm

Year:
2021